Door County, Wisc. Design Love
4/8/26
inspiration
Door County Wisconsin Design Love
a love letter to some of our favorite local spots creating (and curating) really good design.
DEsign appreciation in northern wisconsin
Door County, Wisconsin is a maritime midwest haven that many artists and creative small business owners call home. While great design and detail commonly dwells in bigger cities, these quaint little towns are magnets for adorable boutiques, breweries and restaurants that all showcase incredible, thoughtful design and curation.
We rounded up some of our favorite Door County design destinations. From play cafes to cozy breweries, European cottages to elevated coastal vibes, here are our swoon-worthy stops along Lake Michigan.
WHERE IN THE WORLD?
Get to know Door County, Wisconsin
Though wildly popular amongst Wisconsinites and our Illinois and Michigan neighbors, to many Door County, Wi is a hidden gem. Door County is the peninsula region of Wisconsin (the thumb, if you will!), nestled between the Green Bay and Lake Michigan. With 300 miles+ of fresh water coastline, it offers endless natural beauty and adventures, but is also home to classic marinas, a vibrant art community, and some of the best food and beverage in the Midwest. While Wisconsin might not jump to top of mind for a design-lover destination, Door County proves to be a true oasis in a design desert.
The cupola house in Egg Harbor
Cupola Cafe / Daughters and Co.
Located in Egg Harbor inside an old white house with a stunning (you guessed it) Cupola on top, Cupola Cafe is an absolutely delightful European-inspired eatery. The espresso drinks are to die for, and the pastries and sandwiches will make you believe you found them in a corner cafe in Paris rather than Northern Wisconsin. The space is light and airy, with sunshine seeping in through their cafe curtained windows and fresh flowers on the tables.
What really makes our design hearts pitter-patter, is the provisions shop connected to the cafe. It’s shelves are full of beautifully packaged snacks, hand-selected organic wines and European beers. Think infinite tinned fish by brands like Fishwife, artisan crackers and jarred pickled veggies, wines with illustrative labels– the perfect combinations to pack up and bring with you to the beach on a sunny afternoon. This tiny shop is a packaging designer’s paradise.
If you aren’t convinced yet about their love for design, take a peek at their incredible, quirky Instagram posts.
Keeper
Located in the same building, just upstairs, is our favorite shop home to sustainable wardrobe, art, and homeware. From lovely colorful prints and vintage home treasures to brands like Le Bon Shoppe and LA Relaxed, beautiful jewelry and quirky hairclips– we always leave with a goodie. Beautiful patterns, illustration, and products abound here… sure to leave you inspired.
FUNKY COASTAL VIBES in Baileys Harbor
Sway Brewing + Blending
Sway is an easy-going beer brewery, bakery, and kitchen in Baileys Harbor (just a short jump across the peninsula to the Lake side! It’s a perfect place to meet up with family and friends and experience local beer and unique casual dining. What we love is the elevated boho interior that embraces laid back surfer vibes. The imagery and art is beautiful and coastal, matching the natural, grounding vibes of furniture and light fixtures.
Our favorite element that ties this unique business and brand together is their playfully minimalistic packaging and merch design. We love their use of type and illustration in such a clean but fun way that make their beer packaging truly one of a kind.
other lovely provisions (bevvies & food to adore)
Pearl Wine Cottage (Ephraim) — The perfect patio for sipping wine, and inside find the walls lined with vintage cameras.
Inland Sourdough Pizza (Baileys Harbor) — Incredible sourdough pizza with equally incredible hand-drawn branding and illustration.
Cuesta Coffee (Ellison Bay) — We love this coffee shop’s clean, coastal logo and visuals, enhancing it’s cool, lake-town vibe.
La Sirena (Ephraim) — A sister restaurant to James Beard nominee Taco Maria in Costa Mesa, CA, this lovely restauraunt thinks of design in everything they do. From branding to table settings and food presentation, the experience is perfection.
Island Orchard (Ellison Bay) — This hard cidery’s brand is adorned in vintage-inspired visuals with hand-drawn, story-book like scenes and messaging.
PARENT PARADISE IN SISTER BAY
Little Rad House
Little Rad House is a play cafe and children’s boutique (with some clothes and treasures for mom, too!) The playful branding, colorful merchandise and thoughtfully selected toys and clothes make it a completely joyful design experience from the moment you walk in. Carrying the absolute cutest brands, find trendy clothes, children’s books, wooden toys, adorable hair clips, and the best smelling candles. The space includes a play area for kiddos so mom can shop or sip on a maple latte in peace. eWhenever I go, I leave completely inspired by pattern and illustration, fun color ways and product design.
A COZY COTTAGE CURATION in GILLS ROCK
Hill House
This little yellow cottage is located at the Northern tip of the peninsula and is full of European charm.
This absolutely charming space is full of carefully curated home goods. You can find original art pieces, prints, kitchen supplies, vintage baskets and duck-handle umbrellas, beautifully packaged spreads, crackers and sophisticated snacks.
Our favorite items in the cottage are the abundance of beautiful paper goods. Hill House carries stationary, greeting cards, and garlands from Cambridge Imprint that produces absolutely beautiful surface design.
A Brighten Made brand in fish creek
Sister Golden
Sister Golden is a Brighten Made-designed brand located in Fish Creek, inside an adorable old house. A boho haven, this sunshine-filled space is filled with handmade and elevated home goods from artists and artisans around the worlds. It is also home to their iconic Flower Art Prints. Sister Golden owner, Vicki, creates these iconic prints by foraging materials from Mother Nature and carefully arranging to create beautiful scenes and portraits (without glue or tape!) After snapping a photo, she returns the materials back to where she got them, but the magic lives on through her incredible prints.
We were so excited to create branding for Sister Golden a few years back, and set out to design something as warm and magical as the store itself.
